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As the pip in the
air and the mild chill remind us that
Christmas is round the corner, I
reminisce the numerous Xmas seasons gone
by - some humbly and some grandly. I
cherish the high spirits and delirious
joy Christmas seasons provided me with
when I was a young boy.
In Azhagappappapuram, as in other
places, November would herald the onset
of Christmas Season. The Christmas stars
would come up and the air would be one
of hope and expectation. During
weekends, we youngsters would traverse
the woods and nearby hillocks and
mountains in search of special reeds
with the scent of eucalyptus to be used
to make small bundles to light and
produce illumination on Christmas Eve.
It would not be easy to cut and pluck
reeds from the mountain slopes with a
gusty wind blowing from the north. But
the enthusiasm and spirit of Christmas
would keep us going on and bring bundles
and bundles of reeds. By mid-December
each home at Azhagai would have a good
supply of reed packs for lighting. The
reed flowers and stalks would be used to
make crib and Xmas decorations. We would
decorate our homes with Christmas trees,
wreathes with bright decorative baubles,
festoons, bells and other small
trinkets.
Reed packs would be lighted to provide
illumination to the then literally dark
village and to make bonfires for us to
stand around to burst firecrackers and
launch fireworks. So much heat and light
would enliven our spirits and provide
warmth in the wintry and chilly December
night. Burning of reed packs could
perhaps be a Christmas observance of
ancient rituals such as the custom of
burning Yule logs, which symbolized the
victory of light over the darkness.
Christmas eve would give us utmost
happiness and joy. Though Christmas
basically is a commemoration of the
birth of Jesus Christ, we youngsters
seemed to be looking forward to the real
birth of Christ. Some big guy would play
Santa Clause distributing sweets and
gifts to children.
On Christmas Eve every household would
produce a large supply of special sweets
ready to serve to an on-going procession
of visitors.
Special mid-night mass and carol
singing, of course, would be the
highlight of Xmas. People especially
would look forward to this Mass, as this
is not only a sacred prayer ceremony but
an important social event as well. Men
and women, clad in new clothes, would
throng the main church to see Mass which
would go on for over a couple of hours
and people hail the savior who gave up
his life so that they may live. The
celebrations would begin with the
chiming of church bells on the midnight
of December 24-25, symbolizing the birth
of Christ. The Christmas message and
greetings of the parish priest delivered
from the podium would be heard with rapt
attention. devotees would pay obeisance
at the nativity tableau that depicts the
birth of Christ.
After the mass, people would head off
home on the hallowed night, and
youngsters frisk on their way back,
burning sparklers and bursting loads of
crackers.
Christmas was considered not just about
prayers and midnight masses, it was also
a time for fun and frolic with
socializing, partying, music and other
cultural extravaganza.
Exchanging greetings, gifts, family
feasts, and social activities like
charity fund-raising would feature the
Christmas Day. Even in those days
Christmas Festival had assumed secular
overtones and was joyfully celebrated by
people of all religions and communities.
Christmas also used to be the time for
family reunions. People staying in
different cities for job or higher
studies would rush back to their homes
to celebrate Christmas with their near
and dear ones.
One of the facets of Xmas in
Azhagappapuram in yesteryears had been
the now defunct coconut war, where the
strength of different varieties of
husked coconuts would be tested in front
of a vast multitude by skillfully
throwing one coconut to slam into the
other. The winner would almost always be
a variety called Emedan coconut.
Youngsters would conduct traditional
sports competitions and cultural
programs on the Christmas Day. Even
veterans would actively participate in
events like long jump, shot-put and
marathon.
The evening of the Christmas Day would
be marked by a joyous get-together of
the villagers near the church. This area
would be gaily decorated with lights,
buntings, stars, Santa Claus cut-outs
and Christmas trees from under which
children would eagerly seek out the gift
laid out for them.
On this festive occasion, we should be
conscious of the significance of
Christmas: Jesus Christ is the very
personification of Divinity. There was a
time when ignorance, superstition,
greed, hatred and hypocrisy prevailed
upon the world. In the midst of these
conditions, Christ was born and He
worked a transformation in the lives of
people. He gave a new and spiritual turn
to the lives of man. There came a change
upon the land. People started upon a new
way of life. Thus a new era dawned for
the world.
MERRY CHRISTMAS
(J. Vensuslaus)
December 2006 |
Azhagai anecodotes
